[A rare case of acute abdomen: perforated acute diverticulitis of the cecum].
The Authors report a rare case of perforated diverticulitis of the cecum. The patient was a 68-year-old man who was referred to the Authors attention with the classic symptoms of acute appendicitis. During laparotomy a perforated "omentum-sealed" diverticulum was found on the lateral wall of the cecum, whereas the appendix appeared to be completed unaffected. A right hemicolectomy was performed. The Authors analyse the similarities and peculiarity of the case. Special attention is drawn to the problems of differential diagnosis raised by this pathology. A preoperative diagnosis is arduous because the disease is difficult to distinguish from acute appendicitis and may be even difficult to distinguish it intraoperatively from a carcinoma of the cecum. There is no characteristic clinical pattern pointing to this diagnosis. Diagnostic maneuvers are usually unrewarding. Right hemicolectomy is a safe procedure when the diagnosis is doubtful.
Mosca
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F
Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Cantania.
Stracqualursi
A
A
Piazza
D
D
Zappalà
O
O
Lanzafame
S
S
Latteri
F
F
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D004238:Diverticulitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
Una rara causa di addome acuto: la diverticolite acuta perforata del cieco.